Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences
Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers
(Gaikokujin Tokubetsu Kenkyuin)
2009-2010
1. OUTLINE OF THE FELLOWSHIP
The fellowship’s purpose is to provide opportunities for young postdoctoral researchers from other countries to conduct, under the guidance of their hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. The program allows such researchers to dvance their own research while contributing to the progress of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.
Applications for this program are submitted by a host researcher in Japan who wishes to host a foreign postdoctoral fellow.
2. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program.
3. APPLICANT (HOST RESEARCHER) ELIGIBILITY
He applicant (host researcher) must be a researcher who is employed full-time or classified as being employed full-time (excluding Jokyo, assistant professors, and Joshu, research assistants) at a university or research institution that is eligible to apply to MEXT for funding under the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific-Research Program (Kakenhi) and approved by JSPS as an appropriate institution for hosting young foreign researchers.
Note: Full-time employment classification is determined by the regulations of the host institution.
4. CANDIDATE (FELLOW) ELIGIBILITY
Each candidate (fellow) for the Fellowship must:
1. Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner.)
2. Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received on or after April 2, 2003, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
3. Have arranged in advance a research plan with his/her Japanese host researcher
Note: Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers are not eligible.
5. NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED
For the 1st Recruitment (September 2008): approximately 200 Fellowships will be granted.
For the 2nd Recruitment (May 2009): approximately 200 Fellowships will be granted.
6. DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF FELLOWSHIPS:
1. Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 to 24 months.
2. Successful candidates must start the Fellowship in Japan during the following periods:
For the 1st April 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009
For the 2nd Recruitment: September 1, September 1, 2009 – November 30, 2009
7. TERMS OF AWARD (FELLOWS ONLY)
1. A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
2. A monthly maintenance allowance of ¥364,000
3. A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000, Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage, etc.
A “Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research” (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Shorei-hi) oof up to ¥1,500,000 per year (total of ¥3,000,000 for two years) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses.
Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.
8. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR THE PROGRAM
Applicants (host researchers) will be required to use JSPS’s web application system to apply for fellowships.
Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan through the head of his/her university or institution. Foreign postdoctoral researchers wishing to participate in this program are advised to establish contact with a Japanese or foreign-resident researcher in their field and to ask him/her to submit an application. They should make this contact well in advance of the host institution’s application deadline indicated below.
Application process is as follows:
1. Contact made between candidate and applicant (host researcher)
2. Applicant (host researcher) submits application to institution’s head office
3. Office submits application to JSPS
Note:
(1) JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers.
(2) JSPS does not accept applications submitted directly by foreign postdoctoral researchers or through diplomatic channels.
(3) There is another application channel: JSPS also receives applications for the program through overseas nominating authorities. Regarding this procedure, please see the following JSPS website and contact the nominating authority in your country.
(4). Materials to be submitted
a. Materials to be prepared by the applicant (host researcher) and submitted to his/her institution
* Application form to be filled in by the host researcher (Form 1)
* Application form to be filled in by the foreign candidate (Form 2)
* A letter of reference/recommendation from the candidate’s current or previous academic supervisor (not from his/her prospective host researcher in Japan)
* Note: Only successful candidates will be required to provide a doctoral degree certificate or a copy of their diploma if already received.
b. Materials to be prepared by the administrative office of the host institution
* Number of applications
* List of candidates
c. Application deadline (for host institution):
1. 1st Recruitment: 1-5 September 2008
2. 2nd Recruitment: 1-12 May 2009
Note : These deadlines are for the head of the host institution to submit the application to JSPS; the time frames for applicants (host researchers) to submit their applications are normally earlier.
For further information
CONTACT:
ADDRESS:
Overseas Fellowship Division,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
6, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8471
TEL: +81-3-3263-3444/3761/3692
http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/postdoctoral.html#long